FRANK COUCH/Birmingham NewsAlabama is investigating a situation that could affect the playing status of linebacker Jerrell Harris.

TUSCALOOSA -- The eligibility of Alabama sophomore linebacker Jerrell Harris is in question because of an ongoing investigation by the university's compliance staff, the Press-Register has learned.

As of Thursday, UA had not yet received a ruling from the NCAA regarding Harris. Any potential violations are believed to be of a secondary nature, but Harris could be facing a suspension and is unlikely to play Saturday night against Virginia Tech. A true sophomore from Gadsden, Harris was listed on Alabama's depth chart as the second-string "Will" linebacker behind starter Dont'a Hightower.
Any resolution of Harris' situation is not expected to impact Wednesday's NCAA ruling that former Foley standout receiver Julio Jones and running back Mark Ingram were cleared to play against the Hokies. Harris' situation is a separate case from that of Jones and Ingram, though it is also thought to be connected to Curtis Anderson, a 56-year-old Athens man who provided "impermissible food, lodging, transportation and entertainment" to Jones and Ingram, according to the NCAA.
BamaOnline.com reported that the school's investigation of Harris focused on a laptop computer given to Harris by Anderson. A source close to Harris told the Web site that Harris was not able to produce a receipt for the laptop and has since donated it to charity.
Anderson emphatically declined comment on Harris' situation when reached Thursday by the Press-Register.
"Talk to my attorney. No comment. This conversation is over," Anderson said before hanging up the phone.
UA's investigation of Jones and Ingram lasted about four months before reaching Wednesday night's resolution. Alabama coach Nick Saban said Thursday on his weekly radio program that UA president Robert Witt personally visited with the NCAA and spoke with the governing body about the situation.
The university's compliance staff delved into Anderson's background and determined that he held no relationship with the school's football program.
"The University is aware of Mr. Anderson, and has taken appropriate steps," said Deborah M. Lane, UA's assistant to the president and assistant vice president for university relations. "Mr. Anderson is not affiliated with UA. He is not a UA booster, fan or alumnus, and is not a UA season-ticket holder. In fact, Mr. Anderson told us that all of his family are fans of another SEC school."
Despite there not being a suspension, the NCAA did determine that there was a minor violation with benefits obtained by Jones and Ingram. Since the booster rule did not apply, according to UA, the pair apparently ran afoul of Bylaw 12.1.2.1.6 in the NCAA rulebook, which outlaws "preferential treatment, benefits or services because of the individual's athletics reputation or skill or payback potential as a professional athlete."
For violations of this bylaw, athletes can make restitution -- as Jones and Ingram did -- and not lose eligibility, so long as the value of the benefit is $100 or less.
Without referring specifically to Harris, Saban addressed the topic of NCAA rules and compliance with fans during his radio show.
"I think the worst thing for athletes is for them to go down the road and think when the sign says 35, it's 35 for everybody but them," Saban said. "That doesn't go with me. Just because you're a good football player doesn't mean that what is right isn't right for you as well as everybody else.
"You have freedom of choice, but you don't have freedom of consequence. And we do not want our players to make choices and decisions -- or our fans to put them in situations where they might make a choice or a decision -- that would put them in a compromising position, because you don't control the consequences once it gets in somebody else's hands."